Mark Lowcock, Permanent Secretary, Department for International Development Credit:
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Honours were also awarded to six senior figures at Revenue & Customs, which has been criticised for keeping taxpayers waiting for a total of four million hours before answering telephone calls.

Five priorities for the honours system will be introduced, including recognising those who boost the economy; those who support young people in achieving their potential; those who aid social mobility; those who help their local communities; and those who tackle discrimination.

The new system will be in place for the Queen's Birthday honours in the summer.

A Whitehall source told The Times that the recent announcements had been proposed by Mr Cameron's team. They said: "These things are put together with quite a lot of time to spare."